Who is the Best Bike Mechanic?

Who do you feel is the best bike mechanic out there? We all love our bikes, right….so when it comes time to get them serviced we don’t trust just anyone to do the job. Some of you out there are knowledgable enough to do your own repairs, but for most cyclists we need to rely on the expertise of others. But who is the best mechanic out there and what constitutes a great mechanic anyway?

What makes a good bike mechanic?

To answer this question, I thought I’d ask an actual bike mechanic to see what they felt are the attributes to look for. Chandler Snyder is a bike mechanic from Denver, CO and says that “the obvious qualities of experience and qualifications are key”, but goes on to list these others as well:

Honesty – Being able to admit when something isnt right. Being able to ask for help. Being able to tell the customer the truth about their bike and the service the shop is providing.

Humility – Again, knowing when to be able to admit fault and being able to ask questions.

Attention to Detail – It takes twice as long to go back and fix bad work, or mistakes, as it does to take an extra couple mins to do it right the first time.

Sense of Humor – Sometimes things dont go right, and you just have to laugh at why.

I also asked my Bicycle Guru friend, Victor from Bicycle Lab for his input as well and his list of what to look for goes on to include:

Cleanliness of mechanic and shop

Specialization in the kind of riding you do

Highly recommended mechanics by others how are similar to you

Who is the best Bike Mechanic?

Okay, so we’ve told you what to look for in a bike mechanic….but which ones out there are so incredible that they just have to be mentioned as expert mechanics?

We want you to leave your comments below letting us know who your favorite bike mechanic is and what makes them so dang good. We hope to hear from all of you…from around the world so that we know who the best mechanics are out there no matter where we happen to find ourselves riding.

To get things started, we’ve included a few bike mechanics/shops who have been recognized as the best in their city through reader’s poll and voting.

Chicago, IL – Marcus Moore

Chicago bike mechanic, Marcus Moore from Yojimbo’s Garage is a former bike messenger, founder of a local amateur racing team called XXX, and Yojimbo’s owner. People say “he’s an undeniably great wrench with a laser focus on customer needs, but what really makes him special is his willingness to do anything to help a fellow cyclist—even if that means recommending another shop when he’s fully booked.”

Toronto, ON – Bike Sauce

According to the readers polls in Toronto, Ontario the best bicycle mechanics are found at Bike Sauce. “This is a place where you can fix your bicycle using our tools and recycled or new parts. If you dont know how to fix it, our volunteers will be there to help you. It is also be a social space where you can come and meet with your neighbours and figure out how to improve our city.”

New York, NY – KT Higgins

KT Higgins from the Velo Brooklyn Bushwick Bike Shop is a female bike mechanic who is considered the best in New York. “When it comes to the three R’s of bicycle maintenance—repair, replace, rebuild—KT Higgins is your woman. She’ll take on any steed (fixed gear, single speed, racing bikes, mountain bikes, custom builds, you name it). She always finds time to educate riders, often lending out tools and hosting free upkeep classes in her Bushwick locale.”

San Francisco, CA – Box Dog Bikes

Box Dog Bikes is considered the bike shop of choice for their great mechanics. “Box Dog is a shop for those who love bikes and ride them for fun, competition, transportation, and adventure. We cater to everyday cyclists: commuters, couriers, racers, hobbyists, collectors, and enthusiasts.”

Austin, TX – The Peddler and Bicycle Sport Shop

Here in Austin, Texas the 2011 Chronicle Readers Poll had a tie for the best local bike mechanic. The Peddler Bike Shop and Bicycle Sport Shop are both considered the best places to find a great mechanic in my town. The Chronicle says, “this is the 23rd time Bicycle Sport Shop has taken home a “Best of Austin,” so obviously it knows how to repair two-wheeled conveyances while keeping their two-legged companions happy. Newer kid on the podium, the Peddler (it got the nod in ’09), might be dwarfed by the local chain, but it keeps Duval spinning with familiar faces and the knowledgeable brains behind them. What the two businesses have in common is a commitment to the cycling community with sponsored rides, events, and all-around bike goodness.”

Let us know who the best mechanic is in your city, and why you think they are the greatest.

16 Responses to “ Who is the Best Bike Mechanic? ”

I wish KT was a little closer to Maine!! Or any of these guys!! I have been working to learn a lot of stuff myself because I live over an hour from the closest bike shop…so it is tough for me to get things done sometimes – so I am teaching myself little by little.

Well here in Waco Texas we have only one bike shop, Bicycles Outback. The owner, Ian Moore, is one heck of a mechanic and all around good guy. He is a humble guy, always ready to help and has run after hours maintenance clinics for new riders. He is active in the cycling community as a member of the Waco Bicycle Club, race sponsor and ride organizer. Even if we had five shops in town Ian and his staff would be the ones I would have work on my bike.

I think I have the best bike mechanic. He lives down the road from my house and loves bikes almost as much as Loving the Bike. He has an bike garage in his basement and works out of it on a full time basis. As a matter of fact, I am heading over there later today for new brakes.

My question is other than juice, can you suggest modifications in lieu of table sugar for energy and hydration.

Answer:

Both raw/organic honey or agave can work great in the homebrew (substitute in the same quantities for the sugar, or to taste), but you do have to shake well in order to make sure they don’t settle out. Have you tried either of these? Also, make sure to use at least the minimum amount of salt recommended in the homebrew as the temps rise, you need the sodium replacement if you’re sweating.